Punjab Study

LAHORE:August 31:DIVISION bench of the Lahore High Court on Monday reserved its verdict on several identical petitions, challenging the procedure of entrance test for MBBS.
Earlier, Advocates Mian Abdul Qaddus, Nasir Mehmood Qureshi, Azhar Siddique and Mian Qamar uz Zaman concluded their arguments on behalf of petitioners.
The counsel for the federal government and Pakistan Medical and Dental Council also supported the arguments of petitioners’ counsel. Verdict on the petitions is likely to be delivered this week.
Petitioners’ counsel collectively pleaded that the PMDC was a regulatory body and had the jurisdiction to introduce rules and regulations for admission to medical colleges and procedure of obtaining doctorate degree in Pakistan.
They said the Punjab government overlooked rules of the council and held entrance test before declaration of FSc result. Counsel pleaded that the result of entrance test should be stayed because it would not provide equal opportunity to all students across the country.
They insisted that holding the entrance tests in such a manner was violation of fundamental rights as envisaged in the constitution and also in clear violation of the mandatory instructions issued by the PMDC.
They prayed that the respondents be directed to act strictly according to law and follow criteria for holding entrance test as laid down by the PMDC. Court orders private schools to file reply: The Lahore High Court on Monday directed the All Pakistan Private Schools Welfare Association to file its reply by Tuesday (today) on a report submitted by the education secretary justifying extension in summer vacation.
In his reply, the education secretary contended that due to heavy flood in the province summer vacation was extended. He said teachers were busy in flood relief work and school buildings were being used to accommodate flood victims.
Association’s President Zulqarnain Shah had submitted that under education code the private schools could only observe summer vacation for two months and 10 days. But, he said, the government extended the vacation for next 21 days which was an illegal act.
Apart from the illegality on part of the government, precious time of students is also being wasted as they could not be able to complete their syllabus, the petitioner said and prayed to the court to set aside the notification.TheNews